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Sign up7 habits of highly successful people
Harness these proven habits to transform your business, your community – your life
London Business School faculty engage with successful people every day. These highly effective people have achieved success by transforming habits that shape every aspect of their lives.
This is our unique take on Stephen R. Covey's top-seller book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The list has nothing to do with trends, it is based on proven values of wellness, openness, fairness, integrity and human progress. Here are the seven patterns of highly successful people, as observed by our experts.
1. They prioritise physical and mental wellness
Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance, London Business School
Arguably Covey’s most famous habit is to focus on the important, not the urgent. There are few more important issues than one’s health – but health is easily neglected as its consequences are felt mostly in the long run.
The physical benefits of exercise are well known. But the benefits of exercise are far more than just physical. Team sports involve being part of something greater than yourself – celebrating a goal that a team-mate scored, or passing to someone else – attributes sorely missing in the business world. Group exercise classes channel energy from those around you, and a trainer gives a crucial mental break compared to having to motivate yourself. Even solo exercise, such as running, is a refreshing break from perpetual email bombardment. Merely having a workout scheduled later in the day makes you more productive as you know you have something to look forward to.
And wellness is far more than just exercise. Despite virtually everyone knowing what healthy eating involves, few put it into practice and the developed world is becoming increasingly obese. The misguided belief that one needs to be constantly on email means that it is impossible to truly relax, even on vacation. Music has now become background noise, listened to only when commuting or working out. Social time with friends or family has become a chore distracting you from working. Showing weakness is seen as a sign of weakness, and a major stigma remains around mental health. While we blame external circumstances and busyness, we ultimately are responsible for our own choices. We are human beings, not human doings – whole persons who owe it to ourselves to experience the breadth, length, height, and depth of life.
